Skretting leadership shift sees Maarten Bijl step up as CEO

NORWAY – Skretting, the aquafeed division of Nutreco, is set for a major leadership transition with the appointment of Maarten Bijl as its new Chief Executive Officer effective September 1, 2025. 

Bijl will succeed Bastiaan van Tilburg, who on the same date will become CEO of Nutreco, replacing David Blakemore.

The announcement marks a pivotal moment for Skretting, a global leader in aquaculture feed solutions, as it seeks to strengthen its innovation capacity and sustainability agenda in the face of growing global demand for seafood.

Bijl has spent the past 16 years working across SHV (owner of Nutreco) companies in strategy, commercial management, and general management. 

For the last year, he has served as Nutreco’s first Chief Digital Officer, a role created in June 2024 to drive digital transformation across the group.

Prior to that, he spent three years as Managing Director of Trouw Nutrition North America, part of Nutreco’s animal nutrition arm.

Over his career, Bijl has led businesses in multiple industries and geographies, positioning him as a seasoned leader ready to take Skretting forward. 

He expressed enthusiasm about his new role, highlighting both the opportunities and responsibilities of leading a business at the heart of the global food system.

“Having spent over a decade in regional general manager roles in different continents, and the last 4.5 years at Nutreco, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the Skretting team and business, and I’m impressed by what I see,” Bijl said.

“The relevance of aquaculture in the food chain and in our global challenge of feeding the future should not be underestimated. I’m excited and honoured to work with our team around the world to meet the needs of our customers and drive growth in our business through high-quality feed, product innovation and digital solutions.”

Nutreco has not yet announced Bijl’s successor as Chief Digital Officer, but confirmed that for a transition period, he will continue to hold dual responsibilities.

Strengthening sustainability and communications

Bijl’s appointment follows another leadership move earlier this year aimed at deepening Skretting’s sustainability commitments.

In May 2025, the company appointed Jorge Díaz as Sustainability & Communications Director, consolidating two functions that are increasingly intertwined in global aquaculture.

Díaz, who has been with Skretting since 2015 and most recently served as Sustainability Director, now sits on the Skretting Global Leadership Team. His role is designed to unify internal and external messaging on sustainability while ensuring a faster response to shifting market and regulatory demands.

“This new role will allow us to respond to market developments faster, drive key initiatives that are aligned across our business, and communicate on our sustainability progress in one clear, strong voice,” said van Tilburg, outgoing Skretting CEO. 

Díaz echoed the sentiment, adding: “In today’s fast-changing landscape, increased collaboration and long-term thinking are more important than ever to deliver on our sustainability ambitions. I look forward to uniting the sustainability and communications functions across Skretting, and to strengthening our engagement with customers and other stakeholders to co-create change without compromising on our social and environmental responsibilities.”

Leadership change in Norway

Skretting has also implemented leadership changes at the regional level. In Norway, the company appointed Mads Martinsen as General Manager, replacing Håvard Walde. 

Walde has taken on an expanded role as Managing Director for Skretting’s salmon operations across Norway, Australia, North America, and Chile.

Martinsen, who joined the company in 2011, has long been involved in product development and sustainability and played a central role in shaping Skretting’s innovation strategy. 

Expressing excitement about his new position, he said: “I’ve practically grown up on the edge of a fish pen, and I’m filled with both joy and a sense of awe at being given the opportunity to help drive the development of the feed side in Norwegian aquaculture. We have some fantastic opportunities to produce even more of the best and most sustainable food the world demands, so this is something I’m truly passionate about.”

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